A RED-OVERLAY WHITE GLASS 'PEACHES' SNUFF BOTTLE QING DYNASTY, QIANLONG PERIOD

of transparent ruby-red and translucent white glass, with a flat lip and recessed, slightly convex foot surrounded by a protruding flattened footrim, carved as a single overlay with a continuous design, made up of identical elements on each main side continuing over onto the narrow sides, consisting of severed leafy branches with eight peaches, four on each branch; the jadeite collar with a vinyl collar

Zhirou Zhai Collection.
Hugh Moss (Hong Kong) Ltd., 1993.

Chinese Snuff Bottles in the Collection of Mary and George Bloch, The British Museum, London, 1995, cat. no. 153.
Israel Museum, Jerusalem, 1997.

Hugh Moss, Victor Graham and Ka Bo Tsang, A Treasury of Chinese Snuff Bottles: The Mary and George Bloch Collection, vol. 5, Hong Kong, 2002, no. 873.

There is a small flake to the inner lip; otherwise the snuff bottle is in good condition. The actual tone of of red is sligthly deeper compared to the catalogue illustration.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

While this bottle appears closely related to another bottle from the Bloch collection, sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 27th May 2012, lot 106, there are significant differences and the present bottle may be a little later in date. The style of carving here is less fluid and deliberately more formal than the other, where each peach is carefully considered and different, the views being more sophisticated and possibly drawn from life. Here, the scene of peach branches is more schematic and more decorative in intent. The peaches are more formalized, the two main ones on each side being identically arranged, leaning symmetrically away from each other, suggesting a graphic design rather than a life drawing of the fruit. The design on this bottle probably resulted from knowledge that the subject had been previously produced as birthday gifts and accepted appreciatively, thus causing it to be repeated as a more decorative idea, although once removed from its original inspiration and level of art. It might have been made at any time during the first half of the Qianlong period.